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NCAAB Picks

Which way do we go with Terps-Lions battle? Find inside this game preview our college basketball pick when Maryland visits Penn State tonight as odds opened them as a 1.5-point favorite for this game.

Terrapins-Lions Betting Odds
Most of the NCAA basketball odds market opened Penn State as a 1.5-point favorite for this game, with a total of 128; both those numbers were holding steady in the early betting.

Terps-Lions: The Breakdown
Maryland has been alternating wins and losses for almost the last month. Back in mid-January the Terps won three in a row, then lost at Indiana 89-70. They then edged Northwestern 68-67 but lost at Ohio State 80-56. They then beat Penn State but last Sunday lost at Iowa 71-55. Wednesday night Maryland defeated the Hoosiers 68-66, but couldn't cover as a six-point home favorite. In fact, the Terps are 0-6 ATS over their last six games.

Maryland shot 49 percent from the field Wednesday, and held Indiana to just 37 percent shooting.

At 8-4 in conference play Maryland is tied for second place in the Big Ten, 2.5 games behind first-place Wisconsin. The Terps are also in great shape as far as an NCAA tournament bid is concerned, at 20-5 overall.

Penn State started 12-1 this season, the best wins probably coming against Akron and George Washington, the loss coming in overtime against Charlotte. But the Lions then lost their first six Big Ten contests, several in tough fashion. Since then, though, Penn State is 3-3 SU and 5-1 ATS, although it lost at Ohio State Wednesday 75-55, whiffing on the spread as an 11-point dog.

The Lions trailed 12-0 right out of the gate Wednesday against the Buckeyes, and never got closer than eight points after that. For the night Penn State shot just 32 percent from the field.

Just before that the Lions beat Nebraska 56-43, holding the Huskers to just 29 percent shooting from the floor.

At 3-9 in conference play Penn State sits in 12th place in the Big Ten – if that makes any sense – and needs three more victories to equal last season's conference win total of six. But of the Lions' nine conference losses five have come by six points or less, another in OT.

Maryland took the first meeting between these teams this season 10 days ago 64-58, but couldn't cover as an eight-point home favorite. That game was tied with five minutes to go, before the Terps used a 12-6 spurt to win.

Maryland shot just 44 percent from the floor that night, made just three of 15 three-point attempts, went 15/24 from the line and committed 15 turnovers. But it held Penn State to just 39 percent shooting and out-rebounded the Lions by a 38-29 margin.

Terps-Lions Key Stats
Maryland is shooting 44 percent from the floor this season, 37 percent from 3-point range and 74 percent from the FT line, which is pretty good for a college team. At the other end of the court the Terps are holding foes to 40 percent FG shooting.

Penn State is shooting just 43 percent from the field, 33 percent from long range and 70 percent from the line. The Lions are also holding opponents to just 40 percent FG shooting.

Terps-Lions Betting Trends
Maryland has leaned toward the UNDERS this season by an 11-7 margin, as Terps games have averaged 134 points. They've also played four UNDERS in a row.

Penn State has leaned toward the UNDERS 11-6, as Lions games have averaged 133 points. They've also played five UNDERS in a row.

Terrapins-Lions Free Pick
Maryland played poorly in the first match against Penn State, and still won. We like the Terps to win this game, too. Take this NCAA Basketball pick and add Maryland's moneyline to your betting ticket tonight.